Dingle police chief relieved over alleged e-sabong stream
By Jennifer P. Rendon
ILOILO CITY — The Philippine National Police ordered the relief of the Dingle municipal police chief following reports of electronic cockfighting, or e-sabong, within his area of responsibility.
Capt. Johnny Oro was immediately removed from his post upon orders from PNP national headquarters.
Col. Bayani Razalan, director of the Iloilo Police Provincial Office, said Oro was reassigned to the IPPO headquarters.
Lt. Juarez temporarily assumed Oro’s post.
Reports indicated that Juarez might serve only briefly as Dingle police chief because he has yet to complete an Investigation Officers Basic Course.
Razalan said Oro was relieved after PNP national headquarters monitored a livestream of a cockfight held in Dingle.
Authorities believed the physical cockpit, locally known as a sabungan, had a permit to operate.
However, the livestreaming of cockfights for online betting remains prohibited under the government’s continuing nationwide suspension of e-sabong operations.
Executive Order 9, issued in December 2022, prohibits the livestreaming or broadcasting of live cockfights outside cockpits and online, remote, or off-cockpit betting on live matches.
The order does not cover traditional cockfights authorized or licensed under existing laws.
Authorities had not determined whether the cockpit operator or promoter knew that someone was livestreaming the matches for online betting.
“Maybe, there was an insider who knew about it. That’s why, the livestreaming was done. But we couldn’t know who that was,” Razalan said.
Razalan said police officers would be deployed to conduct covert operations and monitor possible e-sabong activities to prevent similar incidents.
“They will be issued with a letter order for their protection, in case they will be questioned their presence inside cockpits,” he said.
Under PNP and National Police Commission regulations, police personnel are generally prohibited from entering, remaining in, or gambling at cockpits, casinos, bars, and other places of vice, whether on or off duty.
Police officers may enter cockpit premises when officially assigned to maintain peace and order.
Even when officially deployed, officers are prohibited from placing bets, drinking alcohol, or engaging in illegal activities.
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